Police: Callers bombard office in support of defiant pastor

CENTRAL, LOUISIANA – APRIL 12: Pastor Tony Spell talks to the media as he drives a bus of congregants from Life Tabernacle Church after Easter church services on April 12, 2020 in Central, Louisiana. Pastor Spell has been holding in-person services despite Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ ban on gatherings of 50 or more people. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

by: Associated Press

Posted: Apr 30, 2020 / 09:25 AM EDT

Updated: Apr 30, 2020 / 09:25 AM EDT

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

CENTRAL, La. (AP) — A police department in Louisiana says its phones have been inundated by callers looking to voice their support of a pastor who was accused of attempting to run someone over while violating a ban on mass gatherings.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, police in the city of Central apologized to residents who couldn’t get through to the agency.

Authorities say a huge amount of calls supporting Life Tabernacle Church Pastor Tony Spell have tied up the line. Police Chief Roger Corcoran said Spell’s mother shared the department’s number, encouraging people to inundate the phones.

Corcoran asked residents to call 911 in the event of an emergency.